Band #9 (9/1/09)- Floral Terrace

Floral Terrace

http://myspace.com/floralterrace



Left to Right- Brian, John, Justin, George

Genre- Alternative/Indie/Rock

Location- Haverstraw, New York

For fans of/sounds like- All Time Low, Plain White Ts, Taking Back Sunday, Cute Is What We Aim For, Mae, Anberlin, Bayside, RHCP

If you only listen to ONE SONG by Floral Terrace, you MUST listen to... One Shot Clover

About Floral Terrace/why they rock/ why you should check them out- So sometimes I get friend requests from bands on Myspace, and sometimes, they totally suck, but sometimes, they're totally awesome. Floral Terrace is totally awesome (why would I blog about them if they totally sucked?). There's something totally iresistable about "Flo Teezy's" tunes- extremely catchy but not annoying in any way- almost like a non-whiney version of pop-punk. Floral Terrace is alternative without quite fitting into any specific, niche genre. "Something Better" tastes a little like Mae or Bayside, but with some of the pop sensibility possibly heard in All Time Low. "One Shot Clover" has some of the emotionality of Taking Back Sunday but with vocals that are a little rougher around the edges, and a piano part in the bridge that makes it a little more sophisticated. Floral Terrace is a little bit vulnerable without sounding like they're begging for attention, which is what makes them totally awesome.

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Are you in a band, or do you know any awesome bands that you'd like to "nominate" to be in the 100 Bands Project? Comment here or send me an email at mollylh@live.com, with the band name, myspace/website link, band location (city and state/country, or if you'd prefer, a region- "Southern California", "New England", etc.), genre(s), what bands you think you sound like, band photo and member names (L to R, and what instrument they play), and anything else you think I should know about the band (if these things aren't available on the myspace). I'm open to solo artists, too. If I like your band, and I think other people will too, I will include you in the 100 Bands Project. Note- to be included in the 100 Bands Project, the band MUST be unsigned, there MUST be at least 3 original songs available for listening on Myspace or the band website, the band MUST currently be active (no broken-up/on hiatus/inactive bands, please), and all band members MUST be extremely good-looking. Just kidding about the last one, although it's a plus. ;)

Band #Infinity (8/13/09)- Blink-182

Blink-182

http://www.myspace.com/blink182

Left to Right- Mark Hoppus (bass/vocals), Travis Barker (drums), Tom Delonge (guitar/vocals)

Genre- Crappy punk-rock/ pop-punk

Location- California

For fans of/sounds like- The Aquabats, Pier 69, Box Car Racer, Plus 44, Angels & Airwaves

If you only listen to ONE SONG by Blink-182, you MUST listen to... Dammit

About Blink-182/why they rock/ why you should check them out- You may have heard of Blink-182, but if you haven't, stop reading this blog, and go listen to them. Now. Blink-182 describes themselves as "crappy punk-rock". They hail from Southern California and are probably some of the only 37-year-olds that can get away with making jokes about farts and gay sex (with each other). They haven't sold many records- only about 20 (million). Blink-182 songs like "Dammit", "Anthem", "Anthem Part 2", and "Going Away To College" are pretty much the soundtrack to growing up. Blink-182 is classic pop-punk that kind of makes you want to jump around and sing along. On August 12th, they played in Hershey Park (Pennsylvania). Despite the fact that it was raining the whole time, it was possibly their best show ever. Thousands of people turned up to see them- not one left when Blink-182 got on stage. They played all of their most beloved hits, to which fans (including the author of this blog) screamed along. Blink-182 is possibly one of the greatest bands in the world; some day, they might, you know, have a platinum record, or go on a world tour. Oh wait...

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Are you in a band, or do you know any awesome bands that you'd like to "nominate" to be in the 100 Bands Project? Comment here or send me an email at mollylh@live.com, with the band name, myspace/website link, band location (city and state/country, or if you'd prefer, a region- "Southern California", "New England", etc.), genre(s), what bands you think you sound like, band photo and member names (L to R, and what instrument they play), and anything else you think I should know about the band (if these things aren't available on the myspace). I'm open to solo artists, too. If I like your band, and I think other people will too, I will include you in the 100 Bands Project. Note- to be included in the 100 Bands Project, the band MUST be unsigned, there MUST be at least 3 original songs available for listening on Myspace or the band website, the band MUST currently be active (no broken-up/on hiatus/inactive bands, please), and all band members MUST be extremely good-looking. Just kidding about the last one, although it's a plus. ;)

Band #8 (8/11/09)- Memories & Jersey

Memories & Jersey

http://myspace.com/memoriesandjersey



Memories & Jersey is- Steven Lukas Doninger

Genre- Acoustic/electroacoustic/powerpop

Location- Spotswood, New Jersey

For fans of/sounds like- Dashboard Confessional, Hawthorne Heights, Jimmy Eat World, Brand New, Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Say Anything, New Found Glory, Chiodos, The Spill Canvas, The Mars Volta

If you only listen to ONE SONG by Memories & Jersey, you MUST listen to... Our Notebook Fairytale

About Memories & Jersey/why they rock/ why you should check them out- "Tell Me Your Story", reads the headline to Memories & Jersey's Myspace, and telling his story is exactly what Steven Lukas Doninger is doing through his music. Doninger isn't making music in hopes that his face will grace the cover of Rolling Stone; he's making music because music can change- and save- lives. Memories & Jersey has a unique brand of electroacoustic-powerpop that lets Doninger tell his stories- which are at times pretty emotional- without sounding like he's whining. I've heard anything quite like Memories & Jersey before- while the electronic voice is nothing new, the way it's mixed with lyrics that are a mix of classic powerpop and classic, Dashboard Confessional-style acoustic emo makes Memories & Jersey stand out; it's hard to pinpoint exactly which artist they sound most like. The name seems to fit, too- the songs center around stories and memories, and Doninger is from New Jersey (as another New Jersey native, I happen to think that is awesome). Many of these songs- like "Our Notebook Fairtytale"- seem to center around romance (okay, maybe it's not the most "unique" theme, but there's a reason love songs are so popular)- "I'll illuminate the gray/ So you won't ever lose your way/ I'll bring color to your storybook/ And I'll give you your/ Notebook fairytale". Steven Doninger is talented, adorable, totally honest, and from New Jersey (the greatest state in the union), which basically qualifies him as awesome.

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Are you in a band, or do you know any awesome bands that you'd like to "nominate" to be in the 100 Bands Project? Comment here or send me an email at mollylh@live.com, with the band name, myspace/website link, band location (city and state/country, or if you'd prefer, a region- "Southern California", "New England", etc.), genre(s), what bands you think you sound like, band photo and member names (L to R, and what instrument they play), and anything else you think I should know about the band (if these things aren't available on the myspace). I'm open to solo artists, too. If I like your band, and I think other people will too, I will include you in the 100 Bands Project. Note- to be included in the 100 Bands Project, the band MUST be unsigned, there MUST be at least 3 original songs available for listening on Myspace or the band website, the band MUST currently be active (no broken-up/on hiatus/inactive bands, please), and all band members MUST be extremely good-looking. Just kidding about the last one, although it's a plus. ;)

Band #7 (8/10/09)- Day-92

Day-92

http://myspace.com/day92day


(Note- Day-92 does not have a picture of the entire band on Myspace, and I experienced technical difficulties when trying to upload pictures of the individual members onto this blog. Maybe it's because they're Canadian? Just kidding.)
Day-92 is- Adam Flewelling (bass/guitar/piano), Trevor Altwasser (guitar), Garret Costello (drums)

Genre- Pop-punk/punk/rock

Location- Delta, British Columbia, Canada

For fans of/sounds like- Sr-71, Blink-182, Sublime, MXPX, Mest, Gob, Treble Charger, Sum 41, MGMT, Owl City, Jimmy Eat World, Sigur Ros, Elliot Smith, Damien Rice, Hellogoodbye, New Found Glory

If you only listen to ONE SONG by Day-92, you MUST listen to... Stop The Time

About Day-92/why they rock/ why you should check them out- One visit to Day-92's Myspace page tells you that these guys like to have a laugh. They present themselves as jokesters, in pictures and words, but you can tell they're serious (or at least somewhat serious) as musicians. The influence of Blink-182 is pretty evident- both in "Fucked Your Dad" and their more serious songs, like "Help Me". But one thing Day-92 has that Blink-182 doesn't (besides Canadian citizenship) is synthesizers, which make "Stop The Time" and "Get Down" a little more dance-y. Day-92 is upbeat and energetic, combining classic, Blink-182 and New Found Glory-style pop-punk with just a hint of the danciness that you heard in Show Me The Skyline. Their music is 100% fun, 3-chord (or similar) songs with lyrics that will stick in your head- and leave you wondering, a few hours later, how they got there.

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Are you in a band, or do you know any awesome bands that you'd like to "nominate" to be in the 100 Bands Project? Comment here, or send me an email at mollylh@live.com, with the band name, myspace/website link, band location (city and state/country, or if you'd prefer, a region- "Southern California", "New England", etc.), genre(s), what bands you think you sound like, band photo and member names (L to R, and what instrument they play), and anything else you think I should know about the band (if these things aren't available on the myspace). I'm open to solo artists, too. If I like your band, and I think other people will too, I will include you in the 100 Bands Project. Note- to be included in the 100 Bands Project, the band MUST be unsigned, there MUST be at least 3 original songs available for listening on Myspace or the band website, the band MUST currently be active (no broken-up/on hiatus/inactive bands, please), and all band members MUST be extremely good-looking. Just kidding about the last one, although it's a plus. ;)

Band #6 (8/5/09)- Rutherferd

Rutherferd

http://myspace.com/rutherferd



Left to Right- Anthony Paglia (lead guitar), Daniel Calabretta (drums), Joe Frustalgio (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Andrew Scola (bass and back-up vocals), Rob Mandarino (piano)

Genre- Rock/punk/alternative

Location- Toronto, Ontario, Canada

For fans of/sounds like- Sum 41, Metallica, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Oasis, Rise Against, Green Day, Blink-182, 30 Seconds To Mars, Saosin, Dashboard Confessional

If you only listen to ONE SONG by Band Name, you MUST listen to... Angels Won't Cry

About the music/why it rocks/ why you should check it out- You know how when you're feeling depressed, sometimes all you need is a song that sorta describes your situation, and it makes you feel so much better? Rutherferd is like that. It's the music you want to listen to when you're feeling down and like crying... the music that makes you realize you're not alone, and makes you feel so, so much better- "When the rain washes away the tears, I'll be here." Rutherferd doesn't list Dashboard Confessional as an influence, but some of their lyrics do recall DC. You can definitely hear the instrumental and lyrical influences of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and perhaps a hint of a somewhat more emotional Green Day. They don't have a lot of friends on Myspace yet, so you should probably add them, since they're totally awesome. Rutherferd is also from Canada, which is pretty cool (anyone sensing a theme for today? hm...).

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Are you in a band, or do you know any awesome bands that you'd like to "nominate" to be in the 100 Bands Project? Send me an email at mollylh@live.com, with the band name, myspace/website link, band location (city and state/country, or if you'd prefer, a region- "Southern California", "New England", etc.), genre(s), what bands you think you sound like, band photo and member names (L to R, and what instrument they play), and anything else you think I should know about the band (if these things aren't available on the myspace). I'm open to solo artists, too. If I like your band, and I think other people will too, I will include you in the 100 Bands Project. Note- to be included in the 100 Bands Project, the band MUST be unsigned, there MUST be at least 3 original songs available for listening on Myspace or the band website, the band MUST currently be active (no broken-up/on hiatus/inactive bands, please), and all band members MUST be extremely good-looking. Just kidding about the last one, although it's a plus. ;)

Band #5 (8/5/09)- Aaron Pashka

Aaron Pashka

http://myspace.com/aaronpashka



Pictured- Aaron Pashka (vocals/guitar)

Not Pictured- Adam (guitar), Conno (bass), Matt (drums)

Genre- Rock/pop

Location- Toronto, Ontario, Canada

For fans of/sounds like- The Beatles, Coldplay, U2, Keith Urban, Tom Cochrane, Tom Petty

If you only listen to ONE SONG by Aaron Pashka, you MUST listen to... Summer Rain

About the music/why it rocks/ why you should check it out- "I never wanted to be the biggest, just the best at what I do," Aaron Pashka says in his blog. He may not be the biggest, most famous musician ever, but you can sure as hell bet that he's one of the best. Aaron's music is clearly influenced by some of the biggest musicians ever- the Beatles, Coldplay, U2, and Tom Petty. Some artists that are influenced by these musicians get a little cocky, but that's one thing that Aaron definitely isn't. There's none of that "oh look at me, I'm so awesome" here, and that's part of the appeal. His songs are as much for everyone as they are for himself. With standard electric guitars, a steady 4/4 beat, a touch of keyboards, and lyrics like "Oh don't you look so good, standing in the summer rain/ Oh don't you look so good, I just fell in love again/ Standing in the summer rain", this is music that will appeal to everyone. It's part classic rock, part modern rock, and part 100% Aaron. I predict that Aaron Pashka will be pretty big (prediction: girls will want to marry him, guys will want to be him). Also, he's from Canada, which totally qualifies him as awesome!

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Are you in a band, or do you know any awesome bands that you'd like to "nominate" to be in the 100 Bands Project? Send me an email at mollylh@live.com, with the band name, myspace/website link, band location (city and state/country, or if you'd prefer, a region- "Southern California", "New England", etc.), genre(s), what bands you think you sound like, band photo and member names (L to R, and what instrument they play), and anything else you think I should know about the band (if these things aren't available on the myspace). I'm open to solo artists, too. If I like your band, and I think other people will too, I will include you in the 100 Bands Project. Note- to be included in the 100 Bands Project, the band MUST be unsigned, there MUST be at least 3 original songs available for listening on Myspace or the band website, and the band MUST currently be active (no broken-up/on hiatus/inactive bands, please).